Biography:
1. William Turnham was the third son of James and Ann (nee Robinson) Turnham and his father had been a Warder at the Mills (WAGP, p.117). He started work at the Mills as a Labourer earning 1/6d per day on the 18th February 1790 (Supply 5/214 dated the 27th March 1790). In August and September of 1790, he was "In the punts & sett & draw stoves" (Supply 5/215 dated the 14th August 1790).
2. In December 1790 William was "grinding salt petre etc." (Supply 5/215 dated 11th December 1790).
3. In April 1791 to January 1792 he was described as a Millman, with his pay increased to 2/-d per day (Supply 5/216), as was the case in July to September 1792 and February 1793 (Supply 5/216 dated the 28th February 1793). He continued to work as a Millman from March to December 1794 (also Supply 5/216).
4. According to Supply 5/217 dated the 3rd July 1795, Millmen were paid an extra 3d per night when on duty
5. Turnham joined the Volunteer Company as a Private on the 7th May 1794 (Supply 5/219 dated September 1798).
6. A signed document relating to a Petition on Pay, Supply 5/220 of the 2nd February 1800, showed that he was illiterate and recorded that he was still working as a Millman.
7. Return dated the the 8th May 1801 (Supply 5/221) confirmed that he was still working as a Millman, and that he was a married man with 7 children.
8. A Return of Artificers & Labourers dated the 3rd November 1801 (Supply 5/221) indicated that, although still employed as a Millman, he was cleaning and deepening the river, canals and performing other sundry necessary work.
9. Turnham was still employed as a Millman in May 1804, but by then his wage had reached 2/3d per day, and he also had an allowance of 3d per night when on duty "working at the mill" i.e. the night-shift rate was 2/6d (Supply 5/222).
10 Turner was then employed as a Refiner in the Saltpetre House with 2/-d per day (Supply 5/224 dated the 8th May, 1805), and this was also the case in January 1806 (Supply 5/224) with just over 15 years' service. This was confirmed on the 18th June 1807 (Supply 5/226) with a note saying "when not working allowed to watch in turn."
11.According to the entry in Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Mr. Turnham was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/-d per day, and "when not working extra, they are allowed to watch in turn."
12 Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 listed William as a Saltpetre Refiner who was paid 2/-d per day, and allowed to watch in turn. This was also the case in 1812, but by then he was earning 2/8d per day as well as being allowed to watch (Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812).
13 On the 13th February 1814, it was confirmed that William was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner earning 2/8d per day, and when not working extra was allowed to watch in turn (Supply 5/230).
14 List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) confirmed that William Turnham was still a Saltpetre Refiner, that he was a married man aged 51 with 7 children, and that he lived in Waltham Abbey. At that date he only earned 2/4d per day but was allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night.
15 Supply 5/231dated the 28th August 1818, indicated the names of people to be retained between the 3rd September and the 31st December 1818. William Turnham's name was included, with his pay unchanged but he was then not allowed to watch.
16 List of Employees dated 19th May 1819 (Supply 5/231) recorded that William Turnham was now employed as a Brimstone Refiner, that was a married man aged 52 with 7 children, that he lived in Waltham Abbey, was paid 2/4 per day, and that he was allowed to watch in turn, for which he received 1/-d per night.
17 Return of the 13th September 1820 (Supply 5/232) confirmed that William Turnham earned 2/4d per day, that he was 53 and had 7 children, and that he still lived in Waltham Abbey. However, he was then in receipt of 1/6d per night when allowed to watch.
18 A statement dated the 4th April 1821 "of monies to which the public were entitled to receive credit between the 1st January and the 31st December, 1821, shewing the amounts received by the storekeeper" (Supply 5/232) recorded that William Turnham had been living in a house purchased by the Board of Ordnance on the 4th May, 1821, and that he continued to live there with a rent of £8.9.0d per annum. The house, Tenement No 30, has been identified as being on the north side of High Bridge Street to the west of Powder Mill Lane at the eastern end of a group of tenements known as Bank Cottages (Plot No. 48 on the Town Map in Appendix 1). The same information was repeated in Supply 5/232 dated the 16th February 1822 for the year 1821.
19 List of Employees dated the 9th April 1821 (Supply 5/232) recorded that William was 54 and employed as a Saltpetre Refiner, with all other entries remaining the same as in Note 17.
20 List of Employees at the Royal Powder Mills (Supply 5/232 dated the 23rd January 1822) gave the age of William, Saltpetre Refiner, as 55, with 32 years' service and pay per day of 2/4d.
21 Return dated the 6th February 1822 (Supply 5/232) showed length of service and other full details of those persons employed by the Ordnance at Waltham Abbey as at the 31st December 1821. This appeared to be a more detailed and accurate Return than that of the 23rd January 1822. William Turnham, Saltpetre Refiner, was appointed a Labourer at Waltham Abbey on the 18th February 1790, and by Orders of the Board dated 4th September 1818 and the 4th October 1819, as a Saltpetre Refiner. He was allowed to watch in turn to guard the works, for which he received an additional 2/-d per night, giving him a total annual income of £41.14.4d. According to this Return, at the 31st December 1821, he had 32 years' service, he was 55, was a married with 7 children and lived in Waltham Abbey. He was originally trained as a Wool Comber.
22 Supply 5/232 of the 21st March 1822 was a list of persons to form an Establishment at Waltham Abbey to regenerate 2000 barrels of gunpowder as well as to make 100 or 200 barrels of gunpowder annually, and indicated that William Turnham, Saltpetre Refiner, was to be retained.
23 WO54/542 dated the 1st April 1823 confirmed that Turnham was still a Saltpetre Refiner, and that his pay for the year was £39, which included an allowance for watching in turn for which he received 2/-d per week. His family and service details were also confirmed.
24 According to a document dated the 1st April 1823 (WO54/542 - Alteration in Return B) William Turnham had his pay reduced by £2.12.0d per annum in accordance with the Board's Orders dated the 27th December 1822 and the 15th January 1823.
25 WO54/546 dated the 1st October 1824, recorded that William, Saltpetre Refiner, still earned a total of £39 per annum, which included an allowance for watching in turn amounting to 2/-d per week. His period of service was then nearly 35 years, he was aged 57, was married and had 7 children.
26. Return showing pay and allowances, etc. dated October 1st 1825 (Winters, pp.93-95) confirmed the previous information given and recorded that he had been in continuous service with the Board since the 8th February 1790. His pay was given as £33.16.0d. per annum.
27 WO54/550 dated the 1st April 1825, recorded that Turnham was still a Saltpetre Refiner and gave his basic pay as £33.16s.0d per annum; he was allowed to watch in turn, which gave him, on average, 2/-d per week, making total annual pay of £39.0.0d. This Return also confirmed his previous family and service details. The previous information was also repeated in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825.
28 WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826 confirmed the basic information given in WO54/550 dated the 1st October 1825. WO54/554 dated the 1st October 1826, confirmed the information given in WO54/554 dated the 1st April 1826.
29 WO54/558 dated the 1st April 1827 recorded, "no alteration since the last report dated the 1st October 1826."
30 WO54/558 dated the 1st October 1827 gave the same information as in the notes above. At that date William Turnham had nearly 38 years' service and he was then 59 years of age.
31 Return dated the 1st April 1828 (WO54/562) confirmed the same information as in the notes above, exception that he had then served 38 years.
32 Return dated the1st October 1828 (WO54/562) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay reamining unchanged.
33 Return dated the the 1st April 1829 (WO54/566) updated his age and length of service, with family details and pay remaining unchanged.
34 Return showing employees at the 1st October 1829 (WO54/566) indicated that William Turnham still earned in total £39.0.0d per annum, which included an allowance for watching, that his service was nearly 40 years and that he was 60 years of age.
35 According to Return WO54/570 dated the 1st April 1830 all details remained the same for William as in Note 34, except that his service is given as 40 years and he was aged 61.
36 Return WO54/570 dated the 1st October 1830, confirmed the information given in Note 34, except that his service was just over 40 years. WO54/575 dated the 1st April 1831 updated the October Return, and confirmed that he was still employed as a Saltpetre Refiner.
37 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged.
38 WO54/545 dated the 1st October 1831 updated his age and period of service in the April 1831 Return. However, it was recorded therein that he had 2 children and not 7. Subsequent records vary with one giving 6 children, and may have been clerical errors.
39 WO54/581 dated the 1st April 1832, updated his age and period of service in the October 1831 Return, with all other details remaining unchanged (6 children).
40 WO54/581 dated the 1st October 1832 updated his age and period of service in the April 1832 Return, with all other details remaining unaltered.
41 WO54/587 dated the 1st April 1833, confirmed that at that date William was still earning £39.0.0d annually. His period of service was given as 43 years, and his age as 64.
42 WO54/587 dated the 1st October 1833, confirmed that the details given were the same as in the previous Return, except that William had served just over 43 years and that he was 65 years old.
43 WO54/593 dated 1st April 1834 recorded that William Turnham had died.
